Disclaimer: I do not own the Dgrayman anime or the manga. I make no profit from this.
A/N1: At long last chapter 4. I finally found some time in the chaos that is my life in the last few months and wrote this. I hope that you will enjoy it! Please don't forget to review.
Betaed by ThisUsernameIsVeryCreative and Shadow Vampiress.
oOo
The hallway was silent.
Three anxious people waited there, three sets of eyes fixed upon the nearest door.
Inside that room slept Allen Walker, their fellow exorcist and friend.
When the door opened, a heavier silence seemed to settle as Komui, accompanied by Bookman, stepped out.
For a few brief seconds his expression seemed troubled and sad but, in an instant, it turned to a strained smile as he opened his mouth to address the three exorcists.
"How is he Nii-san?" Lenalee's worried voice interceded.
"There is no need to worry so much," he hastened to reassure her. "There is nothing wrong with him physically. It's just the strain he has undergone in the past weeks combining with the shock brought about by the news of General Cross."
"So it is true?" Lavi asked.
"I'm afraid so," Komui confirmed and his expression darkened slightly.
"How could such a thing have happened? Here? There was no word of an Akuma attack," Lenalee's word's mirrored the other's thoughts.
Komui and Bookman looked at each other briefly, as if sharing the same thought, before the latter broke it off. The elderly man cast his gaze on his apprentice making eye contact for a mere few seconds. That was a silent exchange that Kanda had seen before. His extensive battle training had sharpened his senses enough to be able to "read" things about people, namely their body language and their aura. So there was no doubt that they knew, or at least suspected something, about Cross's death. The two Bookmen were typically this cryptic and mysterious. It was usual for them to keep secrets. What was unusual was that apparently Komui was in on the secret as well, or he had his own suspicions about this.
One thing was certain, something was wrong. It was that certainty that had brought him here earlier than expected and the feeling just wouldn't go away. Something had changed.
For a second he halted his thoughts. Was he reading too much into this situation? Was he just imagining things?
What's it to me if there is something weird going on? It has nothing to do with me. Why did I suddenly begin to care?
A nagging voice that sounded disturbingly like Lavi's gave him the answer to that.
It's because this is about Allen. It concerns him, so it matters to you.
"We don't know yet. An investigation will take place to determine what occurred." Komui's voice was strained as he gave his vague reply.
"You should put the incident out of your mind for now," Bookman added. "Allen will have need of his friends now."
"Indeed," Komui readily agreed. He then carefully eyed the three exorcists before speaking again. "The move is on its way, and until it is completed the new H.Q will not be operational. We will do our best to hurry it along, but it will still be some time before we are ready to collect and process new information, let alone hand out new missions. So until that time comes, you have time to recuperate and also help your friend. Be there for him and try to keep him away from the investigation, for his own good."
His gaze was fixed on Lavi as he spoke. Though Bookman Junior had shared the cryptic demeanor of his master as well as his partial impartiality, Komui had the feeling that the young man was more attached to his peers than he wanted to admit to himself. Lavi cared for the other exorcists and he had begun showing it more and more, especially since Allen had come.
"But Nii-san why would-", Lenalee was cut off as her brother turned to her and put his palm on the right side of her face in a tender gesture, a light caress.
"Don't ask me anything yet," he said and his carefully hidden sadness must have made itself even a little apparent because Lenalee didn't press him further.
Komui gave her a smile of gratitude and departed. She simply stared after him, perplexed and saddened.
Bookman didn't linger either. He turned and left in another direction just as soon as the supervisor had disappeared from sight, but not before casting a warning glance at his apprentice.
"Lenalee."
The girl was startled momentarily, upon hearing Kanda's low voice breaking the brief silence.
"Y-yes!"
"Why don't you go in and sit with Allen a bit," he suggested.
She stared at him for a moment, perplexed.
"Of course, we shouldn't leave him alone. Someone must be with him when he wakes up," she finally said.
Though clearly puzzled by Kanda's sudden expression of concern regarding the younger exorcist, she chose not to say anything and simply went to sit by her friend's side.
Lavi on the other hand couldn't resist commenting on Kanda's behavior.
"Well, well, well. Yuu, you truly are a sensitive person at heart. I never thought I would hear-" upon seeing the piercing gaze that the black-haired exorcist directed his way, he stopped. "Either you've decided to admit your feelings for Moyashi or you wanted Lenalee out of the way."
.
OoO
.
A few hours later Allen woke from his slumber. He felt strangely rested. He remembered that his sleep had been troubled by nightmares. However, he also recalled a warm sensation enveloping his body, banishing the bad dreams. It had been a comforting presence, surrounding him. The comfort that he had felt then had allowed him to fall into a peaceful slumber. A deep sleep he was in so much need of.
For a few seconds after he came around he felt disoriented, not knowing where he was or how he got there. Then, everything flooded back into his mind. Cross was dead. He had heard that news and that, along with many nights of little to no sleep, had caused him to collapse in the dining room.
Somebody must have carried me here.
There were two things puzzling him at that moment. The first was why he believed that Cross was dead. Komui had not confirmed such news, for all he knew it might have been a mistake, a stupid and weird gossip. But then, why was there no doubt in his mind? Why was he certain that it was true? But, more importantly, why didn't he feel anything? There was nothing but numbness, no feeling, nothing. He was like a dispassionate observer, watching things happen that really held no real significance to him.
Before he had the chance to dwell on those things more, the door opened.
Lenalee walked in, silently, closing the door behind her, trying not to disturb Allen's sleep. As she moved towards the chair by his bed, she saw him sit up. Instantly, her eyes lit up and a spontaneous smile appeared on her face.
"Allen-kun," she said as she sat down beside him.
I made her worry again.
His expression darkened.
"I am sorry Lenalee."
"Eh?" she looked at him puzzled.
"I always worry you and cause trouble for other people," he explained in an apologetic tone.
"It's okay, we're your friends, we're supposed to look out for you," Lenalee responded, her smile dim but there. "Especially in such circumstances…" her voice trailed away as her face grew solemn.
"So, it's true…he's dead," Allen nodded with his head as a sign of acceptance.
"I'm sorry Allen. Nii-san just confirmed it," she confirmed.
The white-haired exorcist looked at her with a calmness about him that scared her. He seemed too detached from the situation, from his emotions.
"Did Komui say anything? How did it happen?" he asked.
"He only said that there would be an investigation," Lenalee answered.
"I see…" Allen remarked, seemingly dispassionate.
Lenalee was on the verge of tears, she could almost feel them from inside her eyes. She didn't want him to see her like that. Allen seemed to have calmed down, even if he was a bit cold on the surface, but she was certain that that was just a façade. He was trying to keep himself together. All of them had experienced so much death during the past few weeks, and Allen bore the heaviest burden, always blaming himself for not being able to protect everyone. Now he had lost the person who had guided him, the person who had made him into an exorcist. In her opinion, Cross may have had many faults, especially his behavior towards Allen, but there was no doubt in her mind that Cross was as important to him as a father would have been. She didn't want to see him break down again, so she turned away from him, mastering her self control, willing her tears to disappear.
"I wonder where Kanda and Lavi are. They said they would be right in," the girl babbled a little, trying to hide her state.
That gained Allen's attention for some reason, "Lavi and Kanda? Are they here?"
"Yes. They were there when you collapsed. Don't you remember? You fainted right in Kanda's arms and he carried you here. Both of them were very worried about you."
As she talked, Allen's expression went from one of surprise to one of embarrassment. For a moment nothing seemed to bother him more than the fact that Kanda had been the one to carry him all the way here.
"They're probably outside. I'll go get them," the girl stated as she moved towards the door.
Allen could do nothing but nod.
.
oOoTBCoOo
A/N2: I really want to thank Kayday, .001Kamikakushi, InfinityOnTheRun, greenteamoose, p power, addenza, Silver Star Celine, buchouslvr, pockylover123, SeikaDragon, ryu-son, Ran Freylera Leto, love is but an element, N.H. Arawn, Tiny Otaku for their reviews. Those reviews keep me going :) Also many thanks to the people, who have read, have put this story on alert or have it in their favorites. I hope to hear from you some time ^^